Downtown mural hits a MnDOT snag

By Robert Williams

Editor

Economic Development Consultant Karen Pifher and her team at Creating Community Consulting (CCC) will be releasing a Frazee Housing study this week. The study, which looked at everything from how and why area residents purchased their homes to what kind of neighborhoods they prefer and what amenities will be shared with the Frazee Economic Development Authority (EDA), City Council and Becker County EDA, as they own parcels of land west of the industrial park and are working on a plan to put affordable housing there.

Future Senior housing

Pifher also met with Cory and Benita Behm of rural Frazee. Cory owns Sunbehm Safe Home Solutions and a Neighbor to Neighbor board member, while Benita is a family medicine physician at Essentia in Detroit Lakes. 

Sunbehm specializes in providing in-home services to seniors and is interested in developing a senior housing space in Frazee.

The Mikkelsen property by Dollar General was discussed, along with other locations for potential development.

The initial idea involves several senior housing buildings with a separate main building from which to provide support.

“It’s a big project and he said I have no idea how to do it but I want to,” said Pifher.

The EDA is going to provide mentorship on how to pursue with Andrea Froeber taking the lead and Ashley Rennolet providing further expertise.

The likely beginning would start with a business plan and working through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Moorhead.

There are nine SBDC centers in Minnesota. Their services are free of charge and typically mandatory to continue onto future financing possibilities.

“I think that Dollar General area is a perfect spot,” said EDA member Heath Peterson.

Future housing expansion

Pifher and City Administrator Stephanie Poegel met with area developers to discuss future housing expansion in the Frazee area.

“Part of what was shared is that we have these different properties where we have Requests for Proposals (RFPs) out and developers go through the work to put a proposal together and it is not supported at city council,” said Pifher. “There are good reasons why it’s not supportered and that is fair, but what happens is developers don’t want to bid anymore because it’s so much work to put a proposal together and they feel like they’re going to be told no or they’ve seen that happen in the past.”

Pifher also noted the county EDA has stated that even if they had a proposal the big question is will the city council even support it.

Pifher wants to work with the city council and the community to create a vision for potential properties so that developers know exactly what is wanted on those properties.

The Dollar General area property is currently the only property with standing RFPs.

Froeber, a council liaison to the EDA, stated she believes that the city council wants to move forward, but not be shortsighted.

Pifher agreed, but also relayed that the perception is two proposals have come to the council and both been rejected.

“They feel like why would we waste our time coming back, so how do we bridge that?” said Pifher.

Heath Peterson has been the EDA’s biggest pusher of adding affordable housing in Frazee and sooner rather than later.

“I would like to see the council comfortable with an acceptance of affordable housing and I think until that happens you’re going to keep having these problems,” he said.

Froeber was steadfast in that both rejected proposals demanded huge concessions from the city.

“I have to say I think we have a good city council, but I don’t like feeling raked over the coals,” she said.

Pifher and Rennolet agreed that specifics are needed on just what is acceptable affordable housing. Froeber believes the EDA should be coming up with the vision of future properties and Pifher wants to create a subcommittee of the EDA to do that and help recruit developers.

Peterson agreed that more specifics are needed and for him that target is more families.

“We can say affordable housing but what we’re looking for is families,” he said. “Our school, it kind of frustrates me a little bit because the current administration doesn’t seem to care to work with Frazee, at all. And that’s very disappointing. I would love to see our superintendent down here working with or sending the principal down because what we need to do is increase the students we have in our school so our school isn’t hurting for students. Every year, I’m reading in the paper, ‘we’re hoping to maintain.’ That’s not what we want. We want to exceed.”

Pifher stated that she did take some heat for not including the school in the housing study and pointed out that one positive is the district pays teachers more than surrounding districts. She acknowledged there needs to be some relationship building between local government and the district administration.

“I do think that is an area of opportunity,” said Pifher. “To do more with the school.”

She also emphasized the need for a housing subcommittee and creating the vision, along with educating the city council on such things as definitions of affordable housing, such as one can make up to $100,000 per year and qualify for affordable housing units.

Froeber explained the perception, especially, from a group of local residents who frequently complain about property maintenance in Frazee. She also cited the Becker County apartment complex and its issues with maintenance.

“We just don’t want to be the dumping ground for something,” said Froeber. 

Downtown mural hits a snag

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the city was never given permission to put a mural on the wall of the downtown park.

Pifher sent examples of what the mural could look like that are currently under review.

MnDOT has exclusive and specific laws regarding advertising and other signs along state highway right of ways. The Federal Highway Administration office in Minnesota also monitors Minnesota’s compliance with federal highway beautification laws.

“I’m hopeful that it will come back okay, but it did not sound super promising,” Pifher said.

The restriction applies to new signage. The Welcome to Frazee sign across from All in All, for instance, is allowed as it was grandfathered in prior to the change in policy.

Lease up on highway sign

The permit for the Frazee “Home of the World’s Largest Turkey” sign on U.S. Highway 10 eastbound near Eagle Lake Road is set to expire this year. The permit for the sign has a 10-year expiration date. This one expires at the end of 2025.

“The moment of opportunity has arised if we would like to change it,” said Pifher.

An overall consensus of the EDA and reported remarks from the community are of a general dislike of the sign.

Froeber suggested an economic perspective to match the westbound highway sign with the city’s current branding.

The sign was tabled for future discussion.

New Wannigan Park grant

EDA discussed and the city council passed a proposal to host a grant to pay for a coordinator to work with Wannigan Regional Park and the Frazee Community Development Corporation (FCDC) and the Frazee EDA to develop a Wannigan Park Explorer Program.

That person would be responsible for setting up programs and events at the park throughout the year, including a passport that could be stamped at the park during events and at local businesses to encourage visitors to patronize area stores. The grant will also pay for all the marketing costs related to the program.

“This would take the park to the next level by doing regular events throughout the year at the park, at least once per month, if not more,” said Pifher.

The city council approved a resolution to apply for a $50,000 grant that requires no match.

“I think it’s exactly what we need,” Mayor Mike Sharp said. “We need to strengthen that relationship between Wannigan Park and downtown businesses.”